Store-service apparatus



(No Model.)

T. P. FARMER. STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

No. 455,315. Patented July 7, 1891.

I o H E EE E EEZ Y DNTTED STATES PATE T FFICE.

ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE LAMSON PANY, OF NE\V JERSEY.

CONSOLIDATED STORE SERVICE COM- STORE-SERVICE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 455,315, dated July 7,1891. Application filed August 22 1885. Serial No. 175,080. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE P. FARMER, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inStore-Service Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. v

My invention relates to that class of storeservice apparatus in whichrolling carriers traverse ways extending between the cashiers desk andthe salesmens stations; and my invention consists in thecarrier-elevating mechanism described fully hereinafter, and illustratedin the accompanying drawing, in which the figure is a side elevation inpart section illustrating my invention.

Each way or track consists of two rails a a, arranged parallel to eachother in the same vertical plane, each rail consisting of a strip or barof wood or metal, or of a cord or wire stretched taut and supportedwholly at the ends or at the ends and at intermediate points, as may befound most desirable. The track is horizontal or inclined, or isadjustable to alter the inclination, according as the carrier orcarriers are to be impelled by gravity or otherwise.

In the construction shown there are two tracks A A,the track A beinginclined downward from a standard D at the salesmans station toward thefront support or standard B of the cashiers desk C, and the track Abeing inclined in the opposite direction, and the two tracks arepreferably in the same vertical plane. The rails a a of each track arewires stretched taut, and at the cashiers desk each wire passes throughanopeningxin the front or standard B and over and round the grooved edgeof a fin 1), extending from a plate 0, which is bolted to the edge ofthe opening. Theinner end of each wire is secured to a tightenin gdevice 01, connected to some stationary part of the support D, so thatslack may be taken up from time to time and the wire kept taut. Theopposite ends of the wires near the salesmans standard D are connectedto a frame E, consisting of parallel bars 6 6, connected by curved endpieces, the bar (2 being broken at two points to receive yokes or ringsff, and into each wing extends two radial fins b, which also projectlaterally toward the desk 0, each of the wires being attached at its endto the frame and passing over a shoulder to the inner edge y of the tin,so that said edge constitutes a continuation of the track extending intoand through the yoke f or f.

Each carrier G is hollow and has an annular tread. Each carrier is ofsuch size that when its tread is supported by the lowermost rail of thetrack the upper rail will serve as a guide or retainer to prevent itslateral movement and hold it in position on the lower rail, upon whichit will travel with a rolling motion by gravity when the track isinclined, as shown in Fig. .l. The carriers are passed through the loweropening an to place them upon the lower or delivery track, the fins b 12holding the wires so that the carriers may be introduced between thelatter from the ends, and the fins b I), supported by the yoke f, alsohold the wires of the upper track in like manner to permit the carriersto be introduced between them to return said carriers to the desk.

The elevator shown is a carriage sliding between the sides e e of theframes as guides and connected to a cord or chain g, which passes over aguide-pulley h and is provided at the end with a handle 2', and thecarriage is provided with an inclined rail and the side e of the framehas avertical rib 7c in the same vertical plane as said rail, the latterand rib being adapted to the groove or tread of the carrier, whichslides on the rib and remains on the rail in the position shown indotted lines, Fig. 1,un'til the rail is above the top of the lower fin bof the upper track, when the carrier will pass onto said fin and ontothe track. The rib L terminates at a point so far above the carriagewhen in its lowest position that the carrier may be put on the rail j,with its groove in position to receive the rib as the carriage rises,and a guard-rod 'm prevents the backward motion of the carrier and holdsit in place until it is opposite the yoke f.

The frame E is hinged to the support or standard D,s0 as to assume aposition in line with the ways when the wires of the latter are drawntaut.

Beyond the lower end of the track A is arranged a basket or receptacle Jto receive the carriers passing from the track and hold them in aposition accessible to the cashier.

When but one track is used and the carriers are to be moved by gravity,the track is arranged so that one end may be lifted to a higher positionthan the other to direct the carriers first to one end and then to theother, according to the inclination.

Without limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement ofparts described,

15 I claimafranie therefor, a guiding-rib 7c, and a guard m,substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a casing, of an T1. P. FARMER. Witnesses:

CHARLES E. Fos'rnn, EDWIN C. GILMAN.

